Fluid dispensing system



Jan. 19, 1960 c. F. BATEMAN 2,921,719

FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed April 17, 1957 FLUID BLEND i FLUIDDISPENSER DISPENSER BLEND DISIffgNSER B I l- L' v GASOLINE STORAGE TANKGASOLINE STORAGE TANK FLUID 2 BLEND =BLEND FLUID g DISPENSER DISPENSER46 DIS E SER 54MEID B 5 ifia/ T:f r J INVENTOR ATTORNEY United StatesPatent FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM Application April 17, 1957, Serial No.653,356

4 Claims. (Cl. 222-135) This invention relates to a system forproportioning and blending dissimilar fluids, and more particularlyrelates to a system for proportioning and blending an octane grade ofgasoline intermediate relatively low and relatively high octane grades.

Automobiles with internal combustion engines of widely varyingcompression ratios are in service today. In order to satisfy therequirements of each of these engines with an economical fuel, it hasbeen found necessary to provide three octane grades of gasoline insteadof two grades which were previously considered adequate. The provisionof a separate storage tank and dispensing system for the third grade offuel, however, is expensive and space consuming. An object of thisinvention is to provide a simple and economical means of adapting asystem for dispensing two dissimilar liquids into a system fordispensing three dissimilar liquids.

In accordance with this invention a proportioning and blending apparatusis connected to simultaneously draw a supply from each of the existingstorage tanks. A relatively low octane gasoline, for example, is storedin one storage tank and a relatively high octane or premium grade ofgasoline is stored in the other tank. These relatively high andrelatively low grades are dispensed directly through the existingdispensers.

The aforementioned proportioning and blending apparatus mixes the twodissimilar base gasolines at a predetermined ratio to provide a blendhaving an octane rating intermediate that of the relatively high andrelatively low octane grades. The proportioning and blending apparatusautomaticaly maintains the blending ratio substantially constant. Thisapparatus may be incorporated within a dispenser, or it may beincorporated in a selfcontained unit which is particularly advantageousin a remote type dispensing system.

Novel features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in whichsimilar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

Fig. l is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of this invention.

In -Fig. l a pair of storage tanks and 12, installed underground forexample, respectively contain a relatively high octane or A grade ofgasoline and a relatively low octane or B grade of gasoline.Conventional gasoline dispensers 14 and 16 draw a supply from tanks 10and 12 directly through conduits or pipes 18 and 20. A blendingdispenser 22 described, for example, in copending commonly assignedapplication for Letters Patent S.N. 659,743 filed May 15, 1957, entitledFluid Proportioning and Dispensing Apparatus draws a supplysimultaneously from tanks 10 and 12 through conduits or pipes 24 and 26,which tap into pipes 18 and 20. Blending dispenser 22 includes aproportioning unit assembly 25 which is described in detail in theaforementioned copending application. Check valves 17 and 19 arerespectively installed in lines 18 and 24 between dispensers 14 and 22to prevent one of these dispensers from drawing gasoline or air from theother. Similar check valves 27 and 29 are respectively installed incorresponding positions in lines 20 and 26. These check valves are notrequired in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 because adequate check valvesare included with the connected units therein shown.

The A or high grade of gasoline which has an octane rating sufiicientlyhigh to meet the most stringent requirements is dispensed directly fromdispenser 14. A relatively low or B grade of gasoline having an octanerating just high enough to meet the lowest requirements is dispensedfrom dispenser 16. A blend having an octane rating intermediate the Aand B gasolines is dispensed from the proportioning and blendingdispenser 22. The proportioning of the blend is adjusted to suit therequirements of the largest percentage of purchasers. Means may beprovided as described in aforementioned copending application S.N.659,743 for varying the ratio of the A and B gasolines in the blend inaccordance with varying conditions of supply and demand.

In Fig. 2 a system incorporating a remote pumping installation alsoincludes a pair of storage tanks 10A and 12A respectively containing theA or B octane grades of gasoline. Submersible pumps 30 and 32 areinstalled, for example, within tanks NA and 12A respectively. Thesesubmersible pumps may be of the type described in commonly assignedcopending application for Letters Patent S.N. 599,993 filed July 25,1956, entitled Pumping Assembly which on June 24, 1958, issued as US.Patent Number 2,840,139. Pumps 30 and 32 discharge a flow of gasolinethrough air eliminating devices 34 and 36, for example, which may be ofthe type described in commonly assigned copending application forLetters Patent S.N. 604,784 filed August 15, 1956, entitled AirEliminating Device, now Patent No. 2,847,149. From the air eliminators3-4 and 36 the A and B grades of gasoline are pumped to remote typedispensers 38 and 40 through supply lines 42 and 44.

A proportioning and blending apparatus unit assembly 25A is installedintermediate the storage tanks and another remotetype dispenser 46.Proportioning assembly 25A draws from tanks 10A and 12A by tapping intopipes 42 and 44 by means of conduits 48 and 50.

Proportioning and blending apparatus 25A is similar, for example, to theproportioning and blending unit assembly described and claimed incommonly assigned copending application for Letters Patent S.N. 659,743filed May 15, 1957, entitled Fuid Proportioning and Dispensing Apparatuswith the exception that the adding differential incorporated thereinneed not be included. The A and B grades of gasolines are proportionedand mixed at a substantially constant ratio by means of apparatus 25A.This blend is discharged through conduit 52 to the conventional remotetype dispenser which includes, for example, a meter 54 and a computer 56which indicates the cost in gallonage of the dispensed gasoline. Aremote system for dispensing two grades of gasolines is accordinglymodified to dispense three grades of gasoline with a minimum of expenseor disruption of service. Proportioning and blending apparatus 25A mayalso be controlled to vary the ratio of A and B grades in the blend inaccordance with local and current conditions.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid dispensing system comprising storage tanks for dissimilarfluids, a dispensing apparatus directly connected to each storage tank,each of said dispensing apparatus including an individual dischargeoutlet for separately dispensing the fluid stored therein, aproportioning and blending device connected to simultaneously draw asupply from each of said tanks, said proportioning and blending devicemixing said fluids in predetermined proportions to provide a blendhaving characteristics,intermediate that of the stored fluids. s 2. Asystem as set forth in claim 1 wherein said proportioning and blendingdevice is incorporated Within a dispensing apparatus. 7

3. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dispensing apparatusare of the remote type, and said proportioning and blending device isincorporated in a self- 2,921,719 u x a a contained unit connectedbetween said storage tanksand the blend dispenser.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein pumps and air eliminatorsare installed, at each of said storage tanks and said proportioning andblending device is installed between said air eliminators and said blenddispenser.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS MorrowJuly 12, 1927 2,515,570 Rubinfield July 18, 1950 2,664,907 Lowe Jan; 5,1954 2,755,740 McKean July 24, 1956

